Lueur Verte Presents A Multifaceted New World

2013 is weeks away from ending, but this is the time of year when the unleashing of months of effort happens. A culmination of the year's work, marking a chapter's end and a chapter's beginning. In some ways Lueur Verte's Crystalica EP spans a time far greater as this is technically his debut EP, even though he's been active in the 80s inspired synth scene since 2011.

The past couple of years have found the Lueur Verte experience limited to incoming blips on the radar,  that came in from nowhere and dropping a payload of synthual pleasures before disappearing as quickly as they arrived. Tracks appearing on Aphasia Records and other compilations releases, single releases for totally kick arse jams like 'Malibu Sunrise' and the sublimely crafted 'Rockin' Summer'. It's only now that we're given the chance to experience a full five track affair from this producer. The wait has been long and the experience is a surprise, but it's certainly been worth the wait.


Previous Lueur Verte tracks were of a different cut to the suite of compositions on Crystalica. The energy and catchiness of Lueur Verte's earlier pieces has matured into a far more exploratory form, more akin to the grandeur of  'Beauté Glaciale' than his more dancefloor oriented pieces. This makes the five pieces on Crystalica feel more complete and part of a greater idea. The more I listen to this EP the more the tracks seem to ebb and flow within each other, passing through their individual ideas and leaving trails the glow brightly through the proceeding piece. The conceptual nature of  Crystalica makes listening to all the pieces (in their intended order) imperative to gaining the optimal experiential value from it.

In the beginning there is 'Lueur Verte's Theme' which really paints the backdrop for the EP's palette and tone. The synths are lushly engineered with an organic presence about them that alludes directly to the 'green glow'. The sounds cascade and radiate with a modicum of drama or tension. Instead we experience a vista of synthesized delights that move with a graceful ease. Melodies feel unforced and allowed their own space and time, there is no rush or haste, time stands still as the refrains make the colours even more vibrant.

The idea continues into the title track of Crystalica which takes 'Lueur Verte's Theme' and moves it through new horizons, onto reflective dimensions where sounds converse with each other in an esoteric language. Once again the mood is kept neutral with a balanced approach to the arrangements that rise and fall naturally. There is no panic or dread in these new worlds, even with clouds growing dark in the skies.

The breaking of the storm creates a calming effect that is completely unthreatening, and our faces turn upward to greet the life giving rain drops. This intermission then leads into 'Crystalica''s second act which adds a more emotional layer to proceedings. A unity of nature, a cycle of existence that brings new life to the barren surface of Crystalica's faceted surface. The chemistry is intoxicating and the results are wondrous.

From the grounds now fertile with creative ingredients 'Emerald Rising' begins to pulse and force it's way beyond the surface in an ascent to the distant, purpled sky. The pace is ramped up as spontaneous growth produces dazzling green shards of melodic gems. The story is told in a hugely descriptive manner with strata of synths being introduced and layered in a manner that becomes deeply involving.

A small reprieve initiates the beginning of 'Onyx Noir' before the powerful bassline adds a more obvious hint of drama to the aesthetic, then the very second things get tense the delicately formed melodies get injected into the mix to bring the balance back to centre. The elements ceremonially dance for superiority back and forth throughout this piece as echoes of time and emotions twist into a mix of dark and light.

The final piece of Crystalica is the very introspective 'Frozen Tears'. Melodies remain poignant and ethereal through each chapter, fragile and emotionally tender, before reaching a plateau of new vibrancy in the middle acts. A pained and tragic aura begins to emanate into the final parts of this experience, a bittersweet combination of the difficulties faced by humanity in existing as a part of nature, perhaps. The crystal shards that flow then become puddles and soon lakes in a distant world where the cycle continues.

Something that resonates throughout the Crystalica experience is a sense of something greater, there is a maturity to Lueur Verte's synthscapes that are full of depth and wonder. The five tracks all feel part of one larger experience and on their own actually lose some of their magic, which is then magnified upon listening to the entire production. It's themes and stories are deep and contemplative without resorting to extraneous dramatics in sounds or arrangements, which is absolutely marvellous as the melodies are allowed to to tell their stories in a completely naturalistic manner.

I could easily see this EP packaged a single thirty minute experience, taking the idea used in the title track to it's utmost evolution and allowing the listener have little say about how they experience Crystalica, but instead are taken on an epic journey into places that fully encompass the senses for the duration.

Lueur Verte's  Crystalica EP is presented on Aphasia Records Bandcamp page here, this emotionally rich experience is something rather special as it's presence and grandeur are stunning to experience as fully realised journey into the producer's imagination. The vision and realisation of Crystalica is a conceptual idea that Synthetix.FM very, very highly recommends you experience soon and often.

Synthetix Weekend Update

The festive season is getting into full swing and the hot tunes just keep on rockin. No time for dillydallying this week, this Weekend Update is ready to explode with a monstrous amount of quality 80s flavoured synthsperiences rockin from a myriad of virtual locations around the galaxy directly into your hearts and minds.

First up on the starting grid is the irrepressible Danger Mode and his new smash hit 'Class Act'. Exploring some very refined Synth Romance sounds this is beautifully arranged track that channels Steve Winwood directly. Get rockin on this now as it's available for FREE download currently.




Shyguys are back from a six month hiatus with a totally rad new track that is full of 80s love and contains a truly beautiful uplifting aesthetic. The lead melody positively dances around the synthscape while the percussion is just as vibrant and energetic. Available for FREE download currently!




One thing I truly appreciate about modern producers is when they are inspired by 80s themes that are a tad less obvious than the usual standards. On Action Jackson's new track we are taken deep in the heart of Russia with 'Girl From USSR'. The world behind the Iron Curtain in the 80s was one of much speculation and fascination, especially from the West's point of view. Action Jackson captures these Eastern European elements succinctly and delivers them perfectly throughout this great piece. Make sure you check LA Nights, another track he shared this week, even in demo form it totally rocks.




More intimately tender Synth Romance, this time from MoweLan. 'Moonrays' is a majestically performed work of emotionally enriching beauty. The tempo and narrative are lithe and arched for maximum sensuality while the guitars provide sultry passages of electrifying excitement. Available for FREE download, make sure this makes all your 'late night' playlists.




Lueur Verte's triumphant return to the scene has been witnessed by his newly shared preview for the Crystallica EP,  which is due out December 1st. Drama, action, love and adventure are all teased throughout the five snippets available. It is not long to wait for the full release and I'll be sure to give this the full Synthetix.FM treatment upon it's release.




It's no secret to anyone that I rather enjoy making up names and terms regularly on Synthetix.FM and after hearing D/A/D's penchant for this kind of thing in his interview on Beyond Synth this week I've become even more inspired to do so. Sunglasses Kid's new track feels like the perfect place to introduce a new sub genre that I'm going to call After School Special Synth. It's a little bit Library and a little bit funky and it sure is rockin from beginning to end. You can purchase your own copy of 'The Last Dance' via the link in the player. Oh, and I love you too, Sunglasses Kid!




Every time I hear a new Evanton track I seem to think to myself 'this is definitely the best Evanton track' and then they release a new piece, and the same thought comes to mind. Such is the progression these rockers have made throughout 2013 and with 'Don't Stop' they've done it again. Definitely my favourite Evanton experience thus far with the perfect blend of Electro Breakin' and Italo Disco all packaged with a gleamingly slick production. You can pick up a copy of this which includes the U.S Remix and Radio Version through the link in the player.




Do you like to rock? Do you want to rock? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, then you'll certainly want to get the volume cranked up well past safe levels and rock the hell of the absolutely kick arse new track from Jon Of The Shred entitled '2029 A.D.'. This guitar drenched composition of dramatic synths and awe inspiring power is something to behold. I think this is one of Jon's first experiments in rock synth experiences, but I certainly hope is not his last as '2029 A.D.' is k-rad to the max.




How can you possibly follow something with such extreme rocking? With extreme funking, thats how!
Garth Knight is back to full form funk flights of fantasy with his brand new track 'Dance With Me'. I love how stripped back this piece feels, theres a real 'live' element to the synthscape that is totally engaging. It's great to see such strong return from Mr Knight, and you can purchase your own copy of 'Dance With Me' through the link in the player.




Niky Nine has proven to be one of the most exciting new producers coming out of the back end of 2013 and his new release 'Road' adds even more weight to this. The drama is kept in check with an absolutely stunning lead synth melody that flows like a neon liquid of saturating 80s wonder. The story is told splendidly well with each passage and refrain ushering in new levels of excitement. This superb experience is available to add to your collection at a name-your-own-price point through the link in the player.



Another hot rockin preview teaser next, this time from Palisded. I've got a weak spot for Palisded's brand of 80s inspired synth work as it's minimalist nature is punctuated by it's beautifully conceived melodies and combine for a hypnotising elevatory experience. This new album displays these traits in each of the teased tracks. It's not too long to wait for the full album however, as it's due out on the 19th of December.




KFDDA keeps on upping his game with each shared track and his latest is definitely one of his strongest thus far. 'New Sights' eases into itself  through it's introductory passage but quickly finds a path of marching intent and melodic adventures within. I really love the freeform nature of the production that makes it feel lik a live jam yet it still retains a strong narrative. Great work and is currently available for FREE download.




A new compilation from Violent Success Productions called Retro Future is due out on the 3rd of December but I couldn't contain my excitement for two tracks off it from Droid Bishop and Crozet. The compilation contains no less than nineteen tracks from a huge variety of artists both familiar and unfamiliar to myself, and I'm really looking forward to experiencing the full package. For now though, we must rock the amazing new track from Droid Bishop, 'Days Of The Running Man'. The structure to this experience is absolutely jaw dropping with emotive melodies combining with lushly detailed synthscapes that are bursting with vibrant colours and energies.




Another awesome track off this compilation is 'Hold My Weight' from Crozet. This is a high speed adventure into Synth Romance with pastel crushes of synths and percussion melding with a delicate vocal track. The pop sensibilities of Crozet are very apparent as this experience is perfectly arranged for the absolute maximum emotional impact. It's anthemic and full of beauty, wonderful music.




Keeping things in the Synth Pop realm is the new song from the Some Desperate Glory side project Pacific Deep entitled 'Upgradeable'. These guys have really nailed the new romantic synth sounds of the early 80s with a poignant vocal track and a super catchy chorus. These music is authentic and full of homage to the classics of the day while adding a new layer of freshness to the mix.




To finish of this Weekend Update we have something from Le Matos, this is an old promo video for their 'Coming Soon' album that came out in 2011, but I just came across this and had to share it. The video is wonderfully implemented modern take on the original music video for Kenny Loggins 'Footloose' and this combined with the always amazing Le Matos magic makes for a sublimely rad experience.


Le Matos "88mph" music video from Le Matos on Vimeo.


That does us for another Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM, I'll be back during the forthcoming week with more rockin tunes from the 80s inspired synth scene. 'Til then, stay 80s and keep on rockin.

The Futura From Aphasia

Aphasia Records have released their first compilation album: Futura. This compendium of some of the greatest producers and tracks in the 80s inspired synth scene is an absolute must-have release in every respect. It's not just the familiar names of synth superstars that fans love and adore, but it's the way the tracks have been presented as a cohesive experience that unites the sounds as one.

The Futura Compilation isn't some randomly arranged pieces to represent the diversity of what Aphasia represents. No, this is an album that gathers ideas, nurtures seeds that are sewn and creates a conglomeration of music that moves through the space it creates and evolves throughout it. This is more than a compilation, indeed it feels more like a soundtrack created by different artists inspired by the same material and working as a whole on entirely the same wavelength.




The opening suite of melodic and vast soundtrack synth is headed by Lueur Verte, expanded upon by Starforce and completed by Dynatron. Through these three pieces a mood is created and developed. In a void of space where time has no relevance and sound is the only reality the Beauté Glaciale drifts like a cosmic monolith. The epic nature of the music is something breathtaking, flourishing details shine in the looming shadow cast by the enormity of this floating giant. Closer and closer, the music intimates to a subtlety underlying it's astronomical size.

These details are in contrast delicate and almost fragile. Gradient Hues of starlit colours dance like a cosmic waterfall across the surface as our almost fearful beginning takes on a joyous tone. It's a hynotizing and enthralling display that leads further past the surface and into the Stars Of The Night. Like an awakening of a sleeping giant the stars become our guide and power the journey even deeper. The driving percussion opening up the void as path to greater kingdoms. Sweeping synths punctuated with energetic handclaps bring us the horizon and take us beyond into the second of three acts.

The second part of the journey hides the sun from view as constellations dim each star one by one to the point that sound is our only guide, for it's the fear of what might be behind the darkness that inspires a terror untold. The unholy dark synth trio of Protector 101, Perturbator and Judge Bitch turn the light down to zero and the fear up to maximum as their individual vignettes pulse, charge, chase and capture the listener, toying with them in a synthesized game of cat and mouse.

As individual tracks they work brilliantly, but coupled together into a three part story of electronic shadows and interplanetary demons they take on an awesome power of united fear. The story seems like it's going to end in an overwhelming display of darkness covering the atmosphere permanently as no moon rises and no star shines. Then when all hope appears lost, a spark is ignited.

The tiniest of sparks, a light so small it strains our vision to see it. But it's there. And it's growing. It takes the coin-op magic of Arcade High to the darkness of the middle chapter and zoom out to show the digital display in front of us that we were faced with was merely a game. The torturers from the void become sprites we can destroy and dexterity becomes the only tool we need to send the evils of the universe back from whence they came. The melodies are bright and sparkling and our chance to bring order back to the galaxy is only another quarter away.

The Futura allows us to leave the arcade and walk the Streets Of Metropolis triumphant. Orchestral stabs and a driving bassline bring an electronic glow to avenues of the future while speeding melodies arc across the celestial highways at the speed of light, courtesy of Flash Arnold. The sounds of the Futura are a synthesizsed skyline of beautiful neon colours, leading back to our own patch of Tuff Turf. Vector Hold's track is the perfect bookend piece to this compilation, an uplifting and inspiring work that complements all the previous experiences to perfection. As the sounds drift away we're left contemplating our journey, but revitalised and ready for another adventure in the Futura.

Aphasia Records presents the Futura Compilation on their Bandcamp page here for FREE. This compilation works so incredibly well as a single experience I believe this should be one of the first albums anyone listens to who is finding an interest in 80s inspired synth music. It represents so many details and emotions that it demonstrates to the listener just how inspiring these genres of music can be.

The Futura Compilation is undeniably a Synthetix Approved Experience and is one I hope you'll enjoy as much as I have.

Synthetix Weekend Update

After a monster week of hot released the sounds keep on rockin on Synthetix with a fully packed, strapped and jacked Weekend Update!

Vector Hold had been a bit quiet of late but he's returned with avengeance with his new track Out Of Limits. It's boppy bassline and delectably delivered synth layers accent the moody melody. This feels like it should accompany something like Ghostbusters with it's haunting soundscape.




One of my most listened to tracks this week is a demo from Betamaxx called Punks In The Disco. I absloutely love the bassline in this, the high energy drums and synths make for a classically 80s experience. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this develops into a final version as this demo cut is totally rocktacular.




Dreamwave Dave came out with another solid track in Push this past week. Dabbling in some delightfully twinkling  chiptune sounds this piece is loaded magical melodies and a drum track that powers along jubilantly. This producer's consistency in delivering great music is something to be applauded.




It looks like Sternrekorder's recent hiatus is well and truly in the past, for which I'm eternally grateful. His two recent killer cuts, Carousel and Heimweh have been joined by another totally kick arse release entitled Comma Eight. Lots of italo love in this track and absolute perfection in the sounds. Incredble.




Giallo Disco pioneer Vercetti Technicolor unleashed the supercharged Sports a few days ago, once again providing chills, thrills and disco kills. This is the ultimate olympic anthem, coursing with energy, tinged with terror and unrelenting in delivery.




Lost Years is already up to version two of his new track Black Waves. Hitting a bit lower and darker than his last few tracks this moody drama has some of the most rocking handclaps I've heard in recent times. I can only hope version three will bring in some classic samples from American Psycho, as teased at by the cover art.




In what I'd describe as a near fatal wet dream of musical collaborations, Televisor has teamed up with 80s synth scene pin-up boy Patrick Baker and created something sure to get girls screaming all over the planet. Run Away is 80s pop synth magic that will hopefully find both artists working again together soon.




Last but most certainly not least we have a wonderful new track from Lueur Verte that's just come out. This is the follow up to Rockin' Summer and continues down a similar path. Once again we get a great dose of guitars to compliment the soaring synth work. It's a very polished experience and makes me wish for an EP or, better yet, an LP from Lueur Verte to really be able to drink in the atmosphere of this talented artists work.




Thanks for sharing all the action in the 80s inspired synth scene this week on Synthetix and I hope to share more musical magic with you next week!

Synthetix Weekend Update

I hope this week's Weekend Update on Synthetix finds you well and rockin the weekend hard, lets get right to it and keep the temperature sizzling!

Pilotpriest has release a magnificent new piece entitled Canyons, inspired by the upcoming Paul Schrader movie The Canyons. This is a sublime work of absolute quality. One of my favourite Pilotpriest ventures, it's thoroughly deep and mesmerizing.




Lost Years is keeping up his manic rate of production of superb synth sounds with his newest refinement of Breeze. This second version is cementing Lost Years' blending of italo synth and soundtrack synth in completely beautiful directions. This fine producer's work must be due for an album release some time soon, we can but hope.




DigitalNativeDance released a magnificently remixed version of Bikslow's Artanist. This has 80s love and power coursing through it's veins and makes for a totally high energy synthtacular experience. Very impressive work!




Continuing on the remixi theme we have had two brilliant remixes released of Lueur Verte's Night Slasher II. Both Perturbator and Arcade High have provided the reinterpretations and both are works monstrous magnitude. Perturbators dark synth stylings lend themselves well to the original's air of menace with rapid drum fills and thundering bassline terror. Arcade High brings in some kick arse video game drama to his remix and creates a new atmosphere of fear in the digital world. Both are must-hear!




Giallo Disco raconteur Vercetti Technicolor published another piece of horror synth work with L'incubo Senza Fine (Reprise). This genre is a thoroughly wondrous sub-genre of 80s inspired synth work and once again Vercetti Technicolor nails it, violently, into digital oblivion.




Dreaming Android Films has released the video envisionment of Klockhaus's Damage Report this week. A perfect companion to the aural majesty of the music, the video is a hypnotising mix of classic clips from 80s commercial ans promos. A perfect mix.



Another excellent clip from video editor extraordinaire Neros77 was released this week also. This man has once again made the perfect visual accompaniment to one of my favourite tracks released this year; Lazerhawk's Theme. Superlative work as always from Neros77, capturing the spirit and vision of this piece of music perfectly.



That does us for another week  on Synthetix. Next week I'll be covering, amongst other releases, AKAHandsDown and Sello RekT, so stay tuned for more music to keep you firmly stuck in the 80s, right where you want to be!

Rockin' Through Summer With Lueur Verte

The 80s synth scene has been evolving quite a bit over the last couple of months. More producers have been raising the quality of their releases and have begun experimenting in new directions. There's so much influence to draw from in 80s pop/electronic/soundtrack music that we're getting bold new sounds and the horizon's being pulled back even further as the neon colours it in ways we thought were only possible in the fantasies of dreams.

It's time to say, as SEGA so poingnantly put it, Welcome To The Next Level. With the advent of artists like Flash Arnold, Perturbator and others forging the way it has now come to pass that the total rocking riffage of electric guitars in 80s inspired synth music has become the sound of now. I've been longing for this to happen, the mainstay of the 80s sounds, the axe that wields the power, the feeling of electric excitement, the guitars are now, as they were in the 80s, at one with the futuristicly synthesized sounds of tomorrow.

There have been numerous tracks released with guitars in the past, but the new release from Lueur Verte entitled Rockin' Summer is the watershed moment for this next phase in the development of the music we love. The reason for this is simple, but first, lets get rockin!




As the golden tones of summer melodies fill the atmosphere both synthesizer and guitar take flight. The complementary nature of their sounds are both rivetting and enthralling. Then the main rhythm kicks in and we're taken far away through pounding basslines chugging guitar riffs and synthesized melodies. It hits hard and it hits instantly. The melding of all the sounds into a complete powerhouse. It's like going from a string quartet to a full orchestra, the experience becomes a supercharged juggernaut of aural intensity.

The real reason for this is that the guitar track in Rockin' Summer is the engine room of the experience. The guitar isn't used just an extra layer or solo, it's used as the focus, and the energy is allowed to rise from each chord through the atmospheric layers of synths into what is, quite simply, the 80s.
The balance is perfect and the experience is a bitchen epiphany.

Lueur Verte's masterpiece is the essence of finely distilled 80s love and is bottled fresh and ready to refresh the pallete of the listener over and over again. Let's hope we hear Lueur Verte rocking all the way through summer and beyond so please be sure to give him all the love you can on his soundcloud here and Facebook here.

Synthetix Weekend Update

The weekend can only mean taking our Ferrari's out of the garage and opening them up on a nice coastal run around Miami's more scenic routes, but I'm sure we can relax and take in the Synthetix Weekend Update before donning our favourite sunglasses and taking on the night.

It's a red letter day whenever Mitch Murder let's us indulge in one of his new tracks and this week he granted us the pleasure of his latest creation Race Day. Such an uplifting piece of muisc, with shades of Library Music influence mixed with the Mitch Murder magic we all know and love. As always, a vividly glorious experience.




The super talented synth house duo Final DJ's have spun some retro love around Pyramid's Citizen track and have released a short preview of their labours. Though only barely over a minute this promises to be a delight in every respect. Expect to see more about this release on Synthetix in the near future.




Time to get filthy with funk, I do believe. Dusty Knobs has remixed Future Feelings' Odyssey and turned the sex up to MAX. The bassline and synths gyrate and pulsate with moistening precision making for very arousing experience. Breakdance frenzy guaranteed.




As they say in the classics: 'And now for something completely different'. Kid Machine has embarked on a new journey in his music with his latest demo track Pegasus. Described as "SLO-mo Italohhh" the music has been dialled back to a canter from the normal Italo gallop and as such has given it an entirely different aethetic. I love this, it's still massively infectious, but it's almost got an EBM type of air about it. A brilliant mixture to be sure.




Prolific producer of synth music par excellence Lueur Verte goes from strength to strength with his latest release Night Slasher II (The Revenge). A dark synth soundtrack styled adventure, where fear is your companion and madness is your driver. Another superb piece of work to add to his growing repertoire.




To complete this week's weekend update we have another golden remix, this time it's Astral Runner's renvisioning of Limited Impression's Your Name. I can't get enough of this song, from it's perfect 80s percussion to the sweetly ethereal vocoder refrain. Brilliant work.




That finishes up our round up of my highlights in the week of 80s inspired synth music, I hope you've found some new favourites and I look forward to sharing more with you next week. Til then, stay rockin; stay 80s.

A Combined Effort Produces A Glorious Mirage

80s synth maestros Lueur Verte and Perturbator have released their first collaborative effort aptly titled Mirage. Both of these artists have created some incredible music in their own right, I've covered Perturbator on the blog previously, and will be covering Lueur Verte in a future post, but this combined work is a tour de force of expansively cinematic brilliance.



To describe Mirage as moody and dark is like calling a tsunami a high tide. The music works and builds in deep and morose directions with danger and mystery around every turn. The guitars elevate the atmosphere even further with scintillating solos that scythe through the darkness. Over this near nine minute epic you'll be lead into realms of pure unhinged digital fear and by it's end you'll be on your knees begging for more.

Mirage is a work of sheer majesty that is hopefully not the last time Perturbator and Lueur Verte work together, and is only a slight hint of what artists can achieve together. Dare we hope to see an 80s inspired synth supergroup sometime in the future? Time will only tell! To follow Lueur Verte on soundcloud click here, and here is his Facebook page. Perturbator can be found here on soundcloud and here on Facebook. Be sure to give them both lots of love and support!